What a New Year Means to the Faculty & Staff

 We thought you might be interested in what a new year means to some of those serving here on campus.

"One might think that an empty parking lot and quiet campus would be a welcome relief to faculty and staff after nine months of intense life. But for some reason, it just doesn't seem right. Our campus should be one of full hallways of smiling students, rowdy laughter from North Hall, bouncing basketballs in the lower lot, the piano  or drums banging in the music room, the thwap of tennis balls off of rackets on the old slab, the crack (ping) of balls off the bats, the computer lab full of students browsing for answers, students biking or walking off campus to Kwik Trip (Shopko is long gone 😞), the football being tossed back and forth on the hillside, students walking the trails (LiB just cleared them again 😊), benches with students reading in the sun, laughter from lawn games, the crackle of the firepit by the Commons, cheers and groans from the sand volleyball court . . . and NOW IT IS!

After being at Immanuel for so many years, it is always exciting to me to see the "next generation" of students I taught before.  What will they be like?  Will I see their parent in how they look and act?  Now I communicate with the "first generation" as parents, not students. It is very satisfying, and something we need to encourage."

"The start of a new school year means a lot of computer work for me! Each fall dozens of lists need to be updated - dorm rosters, townie listings, car permits, transportation permissions, lunch permissions, home congregations, allergies, phone lists, class rosters, sports rosters, etc. (All made easier if there aren't late enrollments 😉 but we're happy to update if it means another student is joining us.) I like to meet the new students and parents and enjoy getting to answer questions for them, as sending a student to ILC is a lot to navigate! I LOVE summer and always hate to see it end, but if I have to go back to work this is the best job I can think of to go back to! Immanuel was my home for 9 years between the dorms and Birch Hall, and the staff and students continue to make it feel like home for me."0 ~ Jennifer Schaller


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